lamont



2 Sheets-Sheet 1. J. LAMONT.

(ModeL) WATCH CASE.

No. 328,791. Patented Oct. 20, 1885.

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(ModeL) 2 Sheets--Sh eet 2. J. LAMONT.

WATCH CASE.

No. 328,791. Patented Oct. 20, 1885.

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UNITED STATES PATENT FFICE.

JAMES LAMONT, OF SAG HARBOR, NEW YORK, ASSIGNOR TO THE FAHYS WATCH CASE COMPANY, OF SAME PLACE.

WATCH -CAS E.

SPECL'FECATIOE forming part of Letters Patent No. 328,791, dated @ctober 20, 1885.

Application filed Dccembcr12, 1884. Serial No. 150,198. (ModcL) T all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, J AMES LAMONT, a citizen of the United States, residing at Sag Harbor, in the county of Suffolk and State of New York, have invented new and useful Improvements in W atch-Gases, of which the following is a specification.

lChe present invention has particular reference to that class of open-face key-winding :0 watches in which the center ring is formed with a bezel for the retention of the crystal, and a ring or frame containing the movement is fitted within said center ring and is covered by a back cap hinged or otherwise se- 1 cured to the margin of the center ring.

The object of the invention is to improve upon watchcases of the above-named type by making more effectual provision for the dust and moisture proof holding of the timemovement, for the firm retention of the ring which incloses or retains said movement, and for a more convenient manipulation or operation of the various parts of the watch,whereby the movement can be withdrawn from the 2 case for inspection and winding and setting without being separated from the center ring bearing the crystal, and after such withdrawal can be placed back into the case with the dial and hands in proper position for being visi- 3o ble through the crystal on the center ring.

To these ends the invention consists in the provision of a center ring having a bezel for the reception of a crystal or glass made integral therewith or immovably attached there- 5 to, and also provided with a pendant or stem. Furthermore, in providing a movement ring or shell,which is hinged to the margin of the center ring in such a manner as to swing with the face or dial of the time-movement 4o downward or toward the crystal of the center ring, the axis or hinge of the movementring being in such position on the circumference of the center ring that when swung outward it can be brought into the most convenient position for inspection and other purposes. The ordinary back cap is also hinged to the center ring at any suitable point thereon, so that when the movement-ring is swung into the center ring said back cap can be shut down upon the center ring to cover the movement.

The invention also consists in the provis ion of a combined locking-pin for the movement-ring and key for winding and setting the watch, said pin being passed through the hollow arbor or pendant on the center ring and entering a depression or countersink in the periphery of the movement-ring for se curely holding the same in position within the center ring. The locking-pinhasamilled end head and a screw-threaded portion, which fits a screwsocket in the pendant or stem in order to hold said pin firmly in place. WV hen it is removed from the pcndant,its key-shaped end or hollow portion can be applied to the 6 arbors of the time-movement, and it thus serves as a key for winding and setting the watch.

In the drawings, Figure 1 is a perspective View representing a movcnientring hinged to the margin of the center ring at a point on the margin or circumference thereof which is at right angles to the stem or pendant, and showing said movement-ring and the back cap also hinged to the center ring turned at right angles to the latter. Fig. 2 is a sectional view showing the various parts of the watch-case in a closed position, and representing the crystal-holding bezel formed on the center ring Fig. 8 is a perspective View representing the various parts of the watchcase in an open state and the movement taken therefrom. Fig. 4 represents a watch-case in which the movement-ring is connected with the center ring by a hinge located at the point thereof which bears the pendant. Fig.

5 shows such movenient ring hinged to the center-ring at a point opposite to and directly in line with the pendant. Fig. 6 is an edge view of an opened watch-case, showing the 0 adaptation of a locking-pin and winding and setting key for holding the movement-ring within the center ring. Fig. 7 isaviewshowing the locking-pin about to be placed in position for winding the watch. Fig. 8 is a de 9 5 tail sectional view, on an enlarged scale,showing the form of and manner of fitting the locking-pin and key in the pendant to secure the movement-ring.

The reference-numeral l designates a cen- ICO ter ring which has a bezel, 2, formed on its edge for the reception and retention of a crystal or glass, 3, and on its periphery, near its inner edge, it carries a pendant or stem, 4, provided with the customary ring, 4. The bezel 2 is made flaring, or of other suitable shape, so that the crystal can be sprung into the same; or, if desired, any other bezel-surface or means for holding the crystal may be formed integral with the center ring, or be permanently fastened thereto so asto form a component or immovable member of the center ring.

To the inner edge or margin of the center ring is hinged a ring, 5, which serves to re ceive and hold the time-movement and dial of a watch, and said'ring is also provided with a hinged or other movable cap, 6, that serves to cover the rear of the movement, the dial being visible through the open front of the ring 5. As shown in Figs. 1, 3, and 6, the axis or pintle of the hinge of the time-movement ring is parallel to the pendant or stem 4:; or, in other words, the movementring is hinged to the margin of the center ring at a point on its circumference which is at right angles to the stem, and in this manner it follows that the ring with its contained movement can be swung out of the center ring, as shown at Fig. 1, and into the latter, as in Fig. 3. \Vhen the center ring is held in a horizontal position, the withdrawal of the movement ring or shell from the center ring will enable the entire movement to be swung in an outward direction from the center ring so as to bring the dial at right angles to the crystal and allow an ordinary winding-key or the combined locking pin and key shown in Figs. 6 and 7 to engage with the winding-arbor. The aforesaid position of the movement-ring will enable the key to be more conveniently manipulated than if it had to be used vertically, and, furthermore, the movement can be more thoroughly and easily inspected than if it were differently mounted on the center ring. Another advantage in hinging the movement-ring to the center ring is that the former can be turned into the latter with the dial toward the crystal or glass and bring said dial and hands into the exact position required to be visible through the crystal. I have in nearly all the figures of the drawings shown the movement-ring when hinged to the center ring at a point which is at right angles to the pendant or stem; but I also contemplate connecting said movement-ring with the center ring by a hinge which is arranged in just a position to the pendant or stem with the pintle extending at right angles thereto, as shown in Fig. 4, or by a similar hinge arranged at the point of the ease directly opposite the pendant, as seen in Fig. 5. In all instances, however, the movement-ring can be swung into and out of the center ring as occasion requ1res.

The movement-ring is provided with a back cap, 6, that is suitably hinged or otherwise connected thereto so as to fit onto the same and inclose or cover the movement. A hole, 8,

made in this inner back cap, serves for the insertion of the key to engage with the windingarbor.

On the side of the center ring, directly opposite or in line with the pendant, as seen in Figs. 1 and 6, or at right angles to said pend ant, as shown in Figs. 4 and 5, is hinged the ordinary back cap, 9, which, when closed, i11- closes the entire movement; or, more precisely speaking, it closes over the cap of the movement ring and springs over the customary flange on the center ring. This back cap, instead of being hinged, may also be secured to the center ring by a screw-thread or other detachable fastening devices.

The movement-ring, as seen in Figs. 1 to 5, inclusive, is held within the center ring by friction, which suffices in many instances; but in order to provide a positive fastening for said movement ring I resort to the arrangement seen in Figs. 6 to 8, inclusive, wherein Ihave illustrated an attachable and detachable pin or stem, 14, which is fitted into the hollow pendant of the watch-case. The inner end of this pin is made to enter a depression, countersink, or recess, 15, in the periphery of the movement-ring, and serves to lock or hold the same, as will readily be apparent. The pin 14 has an outer milled head, 16, and a screw-threaded portion, 17, which engages with an internal thread, 18, on the hollow pendant. The object of these threads is to hold the pin firmly in place and in engagement with the depression 15 in the movement-ring. The pin 14: has its inner end made hollow or shaped like a watch-key, so that when it is removed from the pendant it can be fitted to the winding-arbor of the watch and used as a means for winding the same, as is clearly indicated in Fig. 7.

It is manifest that the construction of watchcases now proposed by me is vastly superior to prior or existing devices, since I am enabled to dispense with parts heretofore required for producing dust-proof open-face keywinding watches. The chief advantage of course lies in the provision of a center ring having a crystal-holding bezel formed in one piece therewith, and carryingfa movementring which is so hinged to the margin of the center ring as to permit these two members to be brought at right angles to each other, and to allow the movement-ring to be swung within the center ring with the dial toward the crystal through which it is visible.

I do not in the present instance desire to claim the broad feature or principle of mounting the time-movement in its ring or shell in such a manner that it can be placed within the outer case with the dial downward or away from the back cap, so that the hands are in position for inspection from the open or crystal front of the watch, such construction forming the fundamental part of a patent granted to me July 1, 1884:, No. 301,440.

What I claim is- 1. In an openfaced key-winding watch, the

combination, with a case-center having a bezel formed in one piece therewith or immovably secured thereto for receiving and holding a crystal, of a movement-holding ring pivoted to the margin of said case-center on the side opposite to that having the crystal-bezel, and adapted to be swung out of and into said ring with the dial-face toward the crystal, substantially as described.

2. In an open-faced key-winding watch, the combination of a case-center havinga crystalholding bezel on one side, a crystal seated in said bezel, a movement-holding ring pivoted to the margin of the case-center on the side opposite to the crystal-bezel and with the dial-face toward the crystal, and a cap-plate hinged to the case-center on the same side with the movement-ring and at a right angle therewith, substantially as described.

3. In an open-face key-winding watch, the combination of a center ring having a hollow pendant, a movement-ring hinged to the center ring and adapted to swing therefrom, and

a combined key and locking-pin detachably arranged in the pendant for winding the time- 25 movement, and also engaging the pivoted movement-ring to lock it in position, substantially as described.

4. In an open-face key-winding watch, the combined key and locking-pin having a hol- 30 low end, a screw-threaded portion, and an end head, in combination with the watch-case having a hollow screw-threaded pendant and the movement holding ring having a depression for receiving the end of the pin, substantially 3 5 as described.

In testimony whereof I have affixed my signature in presence of two witnesses.

JAMES LAMONT.

\Vitnesses:

PETER DIPPEL, J r. THOS. F. BISGOOD. 

